Letus Ultimate - RELEASED!
- Thread starter Willis Chung
- Start date
Willis Chung
DVXuser Sponsor
agreed, i kinda went past the point of no return... if you see my gear, you'd be like... "dam, so you're joseph stunzi?" =P *no offense to joe, thanks joe btw for the referral* but yea, i pretty much have everything of Zacuto, but when my gear is pitched, they compare Zacuto to Arri, which is for sure, a good sign.
However! I gotta say, if i don't have my baseplate+rizer and all of that, these Letus Rails Ver.2 seems to be the ones to get, one thing i don't like about the Zacuto base plate is that it [ISN'T] quick-release, like how these Letus Rails are & RedRock Rails.
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
Does anybody need a soul?
I have one for sell - almost like new, only used it for a couple of hours - minor shelf wear.
Run when I parked it.
I ask for $4,499.00
Frank
I have one for sell - almost like new, only used it for a couple of hours - minor shelf wear.
Run when I parked it.
I ask for $4,499.00
Frank
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
I wouldn't blame Letus for the price. Before there was news of the Ultimate around this forum there were a few making comments like "I wouldn't mind paying up to $4500 if it had a good Nikon mount, collimation, CCD centering, faster speed and smaller f stop"
Guess what? They listen and if it was me I would also try to make as mush as I can. That is the primary reason a company is open for business.
With that said, there are things that I don't understand. For example if to get the PL mount with the LEX you pay an extra $350 why don't the give a 350 discount when you only need a Nikon mount? or discount when you don't need the HVX or X1 specialized achromat?
As it was mention before this adapter at its price range is for another league were the 2/3" guys hang. The one thing that is missing is the B4 adapter. (I think that is the name of it). Without it would seem useless to buy. I just hope that Letus sells both at a highly discounted price for the set. I personally would probably trade up to a Panasonic 500 with the Letus Ultimate and save the cost of an HD lens.
Can you hear me now? Aaron:thumbsup:
Another thing that would hold me back right now is the track record of Letus charging for replacing parts that were never up to par and call it upgrades.
I would hold off until I see that user are not asking for something to be improved. I don't mind paying for improvements I just hate when they insult my intelligence calling it upgrade.
I can't wait for real independent early adopter photographers to report their experiences.
WAITING TO SEE HD FOOTAGE... (no test footage please real work in situation were the Ultimate makes a difference).
Guess what? They listen and if it was me I would also try to make as mush as I can. That is the primary reason a company is open for business.
With that said, there are things that I don't understand. For example if to get the PL mount with the LEX you pay an extra $350 why don't the give a 350 discount when you only need a Nikon mount? or discount when you don't need the HVX or X1 specialized achromat?
As it was mention before this adapter at its price range is for another league were the 2/3" guys hang. The one thing that is missing is the B4 adapter. (I think that is the name of it). Without it would seem useless to buy. I just hope that Letus sells both at a highly discounted price for the set. I personally would probably trade up to a Panasonic 500 with the Letus Ultimate and save the cost of an HD lens.
Can you hear me now? Aaron:thumbsup:
Another thing that would hold me back right now is the track record of Letus charging for replacing parts that were never up to par and call it upgrades.
I would hold off until I see that user are not asking for something to be improved. I don't mind paying for improvements I just hate when they insult my intelligence calling it upgrade.
I can't wait for real independent early adopter photographers to report their experiences.
WAITING TO SEE HD FOOTAGE... (no test footage please real work in situation were the Ultimate makes a difference).
LuckyStudio 13
The Tapeless One
Ding Ding Ding. You nailed every single one of 'em Doug ! 
rogar-BigGrin(DBG)
I think the price structure Letus is seeking is
$4500 (b4) + $4500 (ultimate) = $9000 total.
Dang, price of a small disc, spinning on a small motor is more than the price of a hpx500 body. Ouch :nads:
rogar-BigGrin(DBG) I think the price structure Letus is seeking is
$4500 (b4) + $4500 (ultimate) = $9000 total.
Dang, price of a small disc, spinning on a small motor is more than the price of a hpx500 body. Ouch :nads:
Oversimplified a little bit.
Also, the relay lens is a product that pretty much NOBODY is making right now and any alternative would cost more and not be as ergonomic.
Everyone's definition of "real work" differs. For some it's strictly narrative, for others it's talking heads.
The Pro Market is not limited to 2/3" and beyond. It's merely professional quality work, that's it. And that can be produced on a DVX100 still. I'm totally guilty of thinking that the 200A is the weak link in my 35mm Adapter Rig and wanted to switch up to 500 soon. But, the quality that I'm getting out of the 200A is plenty enough and anything more than that generally calls up one of the RED kits. So, there's a ton of value in the Ultimate being used on sub 2/3" cameras, especially Sony's golden EX-1. The combination produces some stellar imagery.
It's been said: It's just a product that bridges hobbyist and professional in a way that P+S couldn't, offering extraordinary image quality for a smaller denominator. The people who value this release are the ones that are working constantly. Timur's post is really exemplary of what the average Ultimate owner will be: someone who rents out equipment for a living and uses it daily to put money in the bank. It's an investment that'll pay itself off quite fast...
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LuckyStudio 13
The Tapeless One
I agreed, especially with the price of hpx500 is so within reach of many 'ordinary ppl' here, the first manufacturer to come out with a decent priced B4 will be in good shape.
Over the years we heard a lot of talk from manufacturers on their "B4" adapter but several years later, the market is still void of such product. So, Letus is not the only company that talked about offering a B4 adapter.
Over the years we heard a lot of talk from manufacturers on their "B4" adapter but several years later, the market is still void of such product. So, Letus is not the only company that talked about offering a B4 adapter.
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
To be absolutely clear. I meant not the Ultimate you have since it is not the production one.
I don't care to see someone's shaky hand held clip of a sidewalk in front of their house.
I want to see what it can do and I want to see it in a real situation. I want to see really sharp lenses not the ones that would make any adapter look bad. In other words real professional users not beginners with big pockets.
I don't have anything against beginners with big pocket. As matter of fact I would like to invite them to visit my studio and perhaps invest in my future. :happy: I just don't want to see bad footage and assume that the adapter is not worth the price.
When the LEX first came out Letus put up some footage from season pros that made the LEX look like a DIY. It just wasn't good enough for a demo. We don't do award winning work all the time, but I wouldn't use it in a demo either.
So if you guys out there are pros and you wouldn't use the footage to show a client, then don't show me either.
It's got the same image as a production model, I just don't have the stickers and blue dial. Feel free to inquire over at Letus if this is true or not, but, Phillip Bloom, Steven Cahill, and myself have the same image. Steve Cahill having an actual finished production model and Phillip and myself having Mark II's.
However, I did notice that you said "independent" which sounds like you're looking for someone outside of these three names for whatever reason you may choose. That's fine, I for one can't wait until more Ultimate owners show up but chances of them posting footage like we have may be slim. They'll be out working with it more than I am I bet.
But You can certainly head over to Vimeo. There's footage with Cooke S4's, Zeiss, and soon a set of Master Primes.
However, ought'a realize that some of us are under contracts and showing footage against those means trouble. That's just the way it works.
Couldn't agree more. And it only helps that situation bein that it won't be in the hands of everyone out there. Nothin' wrong with that.
Also agree with you. I think the best example, in the beginning, was Macgregor and Jack Daniel Stanley's HVX work. It was incredible.
Comin' right up. Although I can't give you a full uncompressed HD version. File size is just too large. Finally got my Herbalife footage back, so it's being uploaded to Vimeo right now.
You can also keep your eyes on Turner Classic MOvies channel this August for a Broadcasted show FANATIC employing the use of my 200A, Ultimate and Zeiss primes.
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I think I have it in my other thread, but I'll dig it up when I post the link over there.
Don't get me wrong, I get where Douglas is coming from and totally agree. Maybe I found it a bit assumptive, though. I post what I can without getting in trouble with the people I work for.
Don't get me wrong, I get where Douglas is coming from and totally agree. Maybe I found it a bit assumptive, though. I post what I can without getting in trouble with the people I work for.
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
For example: I love Phillip Bloom's work, but he degrades the quality of the image on purpose as I do for final delivery. I want to see raw HD footage. Maybe just a few seconds at a time but raw.
I know some of my best work I have sign confidentiality agreements. What I mean is shooting with the sun in front of you to see what happens. sharpness test but not with cards etc. I want see what makes this adaptor at that price worth it.
I would love to see a few second without Flash or any other re-compression.
Mediafire allows 100 MBs for free to download. Maybe that works, I don't know.
ExposureRoom is pretty good with HD but still a little degraded.
Sorry, I'm slow so I'm getting confused by what you're saying. You don't want to see sidewalk footage but you do want to see examples? If you understand confidentiality agreements then you probably understand that the most you can hope for is really good... well... sidewalk footage...
Or resolution charts and such. I hope to understand where you were going with your past three or so posts, and to aid you in finding footage to look at that you feel is worthy.
Are you guys kidding me?!
The Le bros, CREATED FROM SCRATCH, a "perfect" 35 adapter and Relay system....10K IS CHUMP change. A pro 35 is still way more than that.
These boys are bringing 30k$ equipment performance to a 10k Pricepoint and people have the guts to complain!
In what way has Letus "turned" on the consumer? They offer a LEtus EX, which is 90% of the performance of the ultimate, at ~1500$... What more can you possibly want? Should Hien, work his ass off for free?
These boys make professional gear. Or are starting to atleast. The EX was a great head way into this realm. The fact that the Ultimate is 4500 is a GODSEND. Imagine owning a Top notch 35mm converter system that fits any lowcost camera, and has the ability to fit cameras up to the HPX3000........
Try buying a Real HD lens. see how cheap 10k seems afte that.
I swear im going to buy a HPX500/ Ultimate/Relay, and i will feel as though i got away with highway robbery considering the performance per dollar youre getting on that setup...
The Le bros, CREATED FROM SCRATCH, a "perfect" 35 adapter and Relay system....10K IS CHUMP change. A pro 35 is still way more than that.
These boys are bringing 30k$ equipment performance to a 10k Pricepoint and people have the guts to complain!
In what way has Letus "turned" on the consumer? They offer a LEtus EX, which is 90% of the performance of the ultimate, at ~1500$... What more can you possibly want? Should Hien, work his ass off for free?
These boys make professional gear. Or are starting to atleast. The EX was a great head way into this realm. The fact that the Ultimate is 4500 is a GODSEND. Imagine owning a Top notch 35mm converter system that fits any lowcost camera, and has the ability to fit cameras up to the HPX3000........
Try buying a Real HD lens. see how cheap 10k seems afte that.
I swear im going to buy a HPX500/ Ultimate/Relay, and i will feel as though i got away with highway robbery considering the performance per dollar youre getting on that setup...
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
The thing is that you thought I was talking about your work again.
I haven't check the forum for a while. I have been trying to get all my TV commercial work out for the last 2 weeks 'cause I'll be taking off tonight on a vacation to NY and DC for a week.
Just remember I AM VERY S L O O O W typing :happy:
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
I agree lets all call Letus and ask for an even higher price. Lets set the standard a little higher. If the Ultimate is better that the P&S I want to pay more.
This exactly how the $4,500 came about.
I remember that. That's why I'm trying to take the time figure out what you were saying, that's all. Wasn't trying to start any sort of trouble. :B
http://www.vimeo.com/1176984
There's a Vimeo Channel up with some footage. Not uncompressed but pretty decent compression for the web. Also, untouched. There's a snippet with a young asian female that went straight into the mix with Varicam footage and as we were playing it back for the client the response was:
"Oooh I love these shots so much. Do we have more of this?"
Just saying.
Douglas Villalba
Well-known member
I just saw it. It looks really good even tho the re-compression stinks.
I hunger for Miami CSI quality out of an adapter. Am I being unreasonable? Nah, I don't think so!!! :laugh: